Ceremonies

You must sign a legal statement at your local register office to say you intend to get married or form a civil partnership. This is known as ‘giving notice’.

You must give notice at least 29 days before your ceremony. For more information please visit give notice on Gov.UK

If you are a foreign national from you must have proof of your immigration status.

If you do not have proof, then your application to get married or form a civil partnership will also need to be approved by the Immigration Enforcement after you have given notice. This may take up to 70 days.
We advise that you should delay making any ceremony plans until you have received clearance from the Home Office.

For more information please visit www.gov.uk

If you have decided to marry in the register office or a civil approved venue, you will need to:

• Provisionally book a date and ceremony time with the venue
• Contact the register office to confirm registrars are available to officiate at the ceremony
• Pay the register office a booking fee of £30 to reserve a date and time
• Confirm the booking with the venue
• Make an appointment so you can each give a legal notice of your intention to marry. This notice has to be given in the district in which you live. If you live in different areas, you will have to attend different register offices.  A fee is payable to give a notice.

The notices cannot be given more than 12 months before your wedding date and must be given at least 28 days before.

You must decide where to have your marriage or civil partnership ceremony before ‘giving notice’. To give notice, you’ll sign a legal statement at your local register office saying you intend to get married or form a civil partnership. This must include details of the final venue for your ceremony.

You must hold your ceremony within 12 months of ‘giving notice’. For more information please visit plan your ceremony on Gov.UK.

Celebratory ceremony

At approved venues, we offer the option of an outdoor ‘celebratory ceremony’ where you can have part of your ceremony outdoors. The legal part of the marriage must take place in a licensed room, as it is not legal in England or Wales to be married outdoors unless the approved venue has a permanent structure licensed for this purpose. The legal part of the ceremony will follow the celebratory ceremony. Please contact our ceremonies team for more details.

We will always try to accommodate your preferred ceremony date and time. Registration staff carry out ceremonies across all of North Lincolnshire and have a wide range of venues to attend. Please contact us to secure the date and time you want as soon as you are able to – we cannot guarantee availability.

Ceremony fees

Ceremony fees depend on the room chosen. There is a choice of one ceremony room at the register office in Scunthorpe. All the fees shown include one £11 certified copy of the register entry.

Standard register office ceremony room (seats four – couple plus two witnesses only)

Ceremony times available on the first and third Monday of each month between 10am and 1pm – £57

Ceremony room at 20-21 Visual Arts Centre (seats 40 guests plus couple)

• Friday afternoons – £211
• Third Saturday of each month – £241

It may be possible to book outside of these times. Please check with the ceremonies team for more information.

Please contact the Register Office to check availability for these venues. You cannot currently book online for these venues.

Approved premises ceremony fees

• Monday to Thursday – £331
• Friday – £346
• Saturday before 1pm or after 3pm – £416
• Saturday between 1pm and 3pm  – £466
• Sunday and bank holidays – £471

Celebratory ceremony (outdoors at approved premises only)

You can arrange to have an outdoor celebratory ceremony at an approved venue, if they can accommodate this. The legal part of the wedding will follow the celebratory element. It will take place in the venue itself, attended by the couple.

Additional fee of £46 payable. This fee is non-refundable

Religious building ceremony fees (registrar in attendance)

Monday to Sunday – £97

On the day of your ceremony, both parties will speak to the registrar before the ceremony. You will have a short interview during which the registrar will check all the legal information which is going to be written in the marriage register is correct. This interview can be done separately if you do not wish to see each other before the ceremony.

Prior to your ceremony, we will provide a selection of ceremonies for you to choose from. Civil ceremonies can include readings, songs or music. They must not include anything that is religious, for example parts of religious services, hymns or readings from the Bible or other religious books.

There are some legal words which must be said but you can add other words if you wish. Discuss any other wording you want in the ceremony with us before the day.

Your guests will be seated awaiting the entrance of the couple.

You may choose to have music played as the couple make an entrance and also during the signing of the register, and when the couple exit the room. The songs cannot be music which has been written specifically for religious purposes. You can bring the music on a CD, USB or a phone to connect to AUX cable or by Bluetooth.

You will need to have at least two witnesses at the ceremony. Witnesses are a personal choice, the only criteria is that they speak and understand English. Where there may be any language difficulties an interpreter should be arranged by the couple. The interpreter must act as one of the witnesses to the marriage. A person under 18 years can sign as a witness provided two other adult witnesses also sign.

Rings may be exchanged but are not a legal requirement of the wedding.

Photographs and videos may be taken during the ceremony at the discretion of the registrar. There will be a photographic opportunity at the end of the ceremony.

If you are getting married at the Scunthorpe Central there is a small paved area available at the rear of the building where photographs can be taken and confetti thrown after the ceremony.

There are many areas to choose from in Central Park. The gardens provide a stunning backdrop for your photographs.

We now offer you the opportunity to have an outdoor celebratory ceremony. The legal part of the ceremony can take place in the approved venue immediately following the celebratory element. Not all our venues are suitable for outdoor ceremonies so please check with them before contacting us.

Please note that in the event of bad weather, the ceremony may have to take place indoors.

For more information, please contact the venues directly:

Normanby Hall Country Park

Normanby Hall Country Park 
Normanby, Near Scunthorpe
01724 720588

Ashbourne Hotel and Restaurant

Ashbourne Hotel and Restaurant
Vicarage Lane
North Killingholme
01469 541010

Ashby Decoy Golf Club

Ashby Decoy Golf Club
Burringham Road
Scunthorpe
01724 866561

Bardney Hall

Bardney Hall
Whitecross Street,
Barton upon Humber
DN18 5DF
01652 638188

Cleatham Hall

Cleatham Hall
Cleatham, Kirton in Lindsey
01652 649402

Ealand Gate

Ealand Gate
Outgate
Ealand
DN17 4JE
07879660945

Elsham Hall

Elsham Hall
Elsham Country Gardens and Park
Elsham
 01652 688955

Double Tree by Hilton Forest Pines

Double Tree by Hilton Forest Pines Golf Resort and Spa
Ermine Street
Broughton
01652 650770

Grange Park Golf Club

Grange Park Golf Club
Butterwick Road
Messingham
DN17 3PP
01724 766478

Hampton by Hilton

Hampton by Hilton
Kirmington
01652 413112

Hirst Priory

Hirst Priory
Belton
01724 762945

Holme Hall Golf Club

Holme Hall Golf Club
Scunthorpe
01724 862078

Normanby Golf Club

Normanby Golf Club
Normanby Road
Normanby
North Lincolnshire
DN15 9HU
01724 720226

RAOB Club

R.A.O.B Club
Bottesford Road
Scunthorpe
DN16 3HF
01724 863161

The Buttercross

The Buttercross
Market Place
Brigg
01724 296771

The Reindeer Inn

The Reindeer Inn
Thorne Road
Sandtoft
DN8 5SZ
01724 710774

The Royal Hotel

The Royal Hotel
Doncaster Road
Scunthorpe
01724 282233

San Pietro

San Pietro Restaurant
11 High Street East
Scunthorpe
01724 277774

Walcot Hall

Walcot Hall
Walcot
Near Alkborough
01724 720420

Winteringham Fields

Winteringham Fields
1 Silver Street
Winteringham
01724 733096

Wootton Hall

Wootton Hall
Barton Road
Ulceby

For contact please see the venues own webpage

The Wortley House Hotel

The Wortley House Hotel
Rowland Road
Scunthorpe
01724 842223

You can convert your same sex civil partnership into a marriage at:

• a register office
• a local registration office
• a religious or approved premises where same sex marriages are allowed – a ceremony may follow

You’ll get a marriage certificate, dated when your civil partnership was formed.

For more information please visit convert civil partnership on Gov.UK

Conversion from a civil partnership to a marriage

Couples who are in civil partnership can legally convert to a marriage, if they choose to.

Conversions are possible for couples who registered their civil partnership in England, Wales or overseas in a consulate or armed forces base (where the civil partnership was registered according to the law of England and Wales).

Conversion process

Couples can convert their civil partnership into marriage using a simple ‘one stage’ procedure, or a ‘two stage’ procedure where the conversion into marriage is followed by a ceremony.

The standard one-stage procedure

Couples attend any register office or local registration service point for an appointment with the superintendent registrar. They complete a declaration with details about themselves and their civil partnership, together with evidence of their name, date of birth, address and civil partnership certificate.

The couple and the superintendent registrar sign the declaration. The couple can also opt to say the declaration wording aloud to one another before signing (if they wish to do so). The conversion into marriage is registered electronically and a marriage certificate issued.

The two-stage procedure

Stage one

Couples attend any register office or local registration service point for an appointment with the superintendent registrar. They complete a declaration with details about themselves and their civil partnership, together with evidence of name, date of birth, address and their civil partnership certificate.

At this point they state the name of the venue where they wish to sign the conversion declaration. The signing of the declaration, which can be followed by a ceremony, can take place at the same range of venues where a marriage of same sex couples can take place:

• Register office
• Approved premises
• Religious buildings registered for the marriage of same sex couples
• Premises where a ceremony according to the Jewish faith or the Society of Friends will immediately follow the conversion.

Stage two

The declaration is made at the specified venue. This can be followed by a ceremony if the couple wish. The superintendent registrar returns to their office and enters the conversion details electronically. A marriage certificate will be posted to the couple.

Please contact the register office if you wish to arrange a conversion. We will be able to give you details of fees and how to proceed further.

A renewal of marriage vows ceremony can be an opportunity to mark a special anniversary. It can also be a way of celebrating with friends and family after a marriage abroad.

Every vow renewal ceremony is unique. Couples can create their own personal ceremony by selecting preferences from the options available.

The couple can invite special people in their lives to take part in the ceremony. This could include:

• children
• original wedding guests
• friends
• relatives

Ceremonies normally take approximately 40 minutes depending on the number of readings chosen. They can take place in the Scunthorpe Central in the ceremony room. Ceremonies can also be held in any of North Lincolnshire’s approved venues.

Ceremonies are secular and do not contain religious references. They are not restricted to couples who live in North Lincolnshire.

The ceremony provides a non-restrictive service where couples can celebrate their marriage whatever their circumstances. They can be any age and married for any length of time. Two people witness the signing of a souvenir certificate of the event.

Costs

Current fees for renewal of vows ceremonies held at Scunthorpe Central are shown below and include a commemorative certificate. Payment can be made by debit or credit card.

Ceremony Room One (capacity 20 people)

• Monday to Thursday – £110
• Friday – £130
• Saturday – £150

Ceremonies held in approved venues

• Monday to Thursday – £320
• Friday – £335
• Saturday – £410
• Sundays and bank holidays – £460

All ceremony charges include VAT at 20 per cent.

You need to attend a citizenship ceremony if you’re 18 or over and have successfully applied to become a British citizen. For more information please visit Citizenship ceremonies on Gov.UK

What happens

The ceremony must take place within three months of the application being granted. It includes making either an oath or affirmation of allegiance to the crown and a pledge of loyalty to the United Kingdom.

Those under 18 do not have to take part in ceremonies, but they may attend along with their families and be included in the formalities.

The register office receives notification from the Home Office of the granting of citizenship for people living in North Lincolnshire. A letter is sent out inviting new citizens to the next available ceremony.

The ceremonies are appropriate and dignified as well as warm and welcoming. There is a Union Jack flag and portrait of HM The Queen at the ceremonies.

The ceremony begins with welcome speeches from the Superintendent Registrar, the Mayor of North Lincolnshire and the Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire. The applicants then either swear or affirm their allegiance to the Queen and make their pledge of allegiance to the United Kingdom.

Each applicant comes forward to receive his or her certificate and sign the Citizenship Register. A local dignitary presents the certificates.

The ceremony ends with everyone standing for the playing of the National Anthem. There is then an opportunity for photographs to be taken.

Each applicant receives a Home Office information pack with his or her certificate.

Standard ceremony

The ceremony is held each month at Scunthorpe Central, Carlton Street, Scunthorpe.

The ceremony normally takes place on the third Tuesday morning of each month at 10am. The Mayor of North Lincolnshire and the Lord Lieutenant of North Lincolnshire (or his deputy) usually attend the ceremony.

Private ceremony

Anyone wishing to have a private ceremony should contact the Superintendent Registrar at North Lincolnshire register office to make arrangements.

The current fees for private ceremonies in the ceremony room  (seating 20) at the Scunthorpe Central are:

Monday to Thursday – £110
Friday – £130

Payment can be made by debit or credit card. Please note that we do not take cash payments.

A naming ceremony is a special way of celebrating a child’s birth or adoption. It announces names and welcomes the new arrival into the family and wider community.

The ceremony gives parents the opportunity to declare, before family and friends, their promise to be as good a parent as possible.

Families can choose guiding adults to pledge a unique relationship with the child. Grandparents and other relatives can also confirm their special relationship with the child by making promises.

Ceremonies can take place Scunthorpe Central in the ceremony room. They may also take place in any of North Lincolnshire’s approved venues.

The ceremony can be personalised with promises made by the parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters and supporting adults of the child. There is opportunity for poems and readings to be said by family or friends. A commemorative certificate is signed at the end before an opportunity for photographs.

The naming ceremony has no religious content.

Costs

Current fees for naming ceremonies held at Scunthorpe Central are shown below. Payment can be made by debit or credit card.

Ceremony Room – capacity 20 people

Monday to Thursday – £110
Friday – £130
Saturday – £150

Ceremonies held in approved venues

Monday to Thursday – £320
Friday – £335
Saturday – £455 at 1pm or 2.45pm or £405 at 11.15am or 4.30pm
Sundays and bank holidays – £460

All ceremony charges include a commemorative certificate and VAT at 20 per cent.

Marriage and civil partnerships venues – approved premises

Civil marriage ceremonies and civil partnerships can only be conducted in registry offices or approved premises.

Premises seeking approval from the council have to satisfy a number of criteria. These are based on the requirements of the registrar and health and safety inspectors.

How to apply

To apply to become an approved venue please read our guidebook for applicants [PDF, 152Kb] and complete the Licence application form [PDF, 116 Kb]

For further information please read the Registrar General’s guidance for the approval of premises as venues for civil marriages and civil partnerships

Fees and charges

Grant of Approval – £1200 (please note this is for new currently unlicensed venues or current approved premises adding additional rooms to existing licenses)

Renewal of Approval – £1000

Renewals can be applied for up to 12 months before the expiry date and any the renewal will begin at the end of the current expiry.

Timescale

We aim to deal with grant and renewal applications within 30 days. We will contact you once the grant or renewal has been approved.

Renewal applications for a 21 day period